Portable folding table.



B. s. GEARRINI.

PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION nunmu. 12, 1910.

9645392. Patented July 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. S. OERRINI.

PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE.

APPLIUATION IILBD MAR.12, 1910.

Patented July 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, UNITE STATS Specification of Letters Patent.

PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Application filed March 12, 1910. Serial No. 548,847.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARONIN STEPHANIE CERRINI, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Munich, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Portable Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to portable folding tables, and its objects are to furnish the table with a rigid support when in use, to arrange the legs and supporting means so as to be compactly folded upon the table in order that the same may be easily transported, to secure writing and drawing implements and materials upon the top of the table, and to protect the same from external injury and the inclemency of the weather when the table is moved from place, and to simplify and render more effective the. operation of the several parts.

My invention primarily consists in supporting the table by extensible folding legs, arranged to be compactly folded upon the table when not in use, and to be locked together in the relative positions normally assumed when they are extended.

My invention further consists in constructing the top of the table in the form of a shallow box, one side and the cover thereof being made detachable for the purpose of rendering the contents of the box accessible and the table convenient for use.

My invention further consists in constructing a table leg in two parts pivotally connected at their ad acent ends, so as to leave said ends projecting beyond the connecting pivot, one of said projecting ends being provided with a stud shaped to engage with a recess in the adjacent member for the purpose of providing a rigid leg for the table.

My invention further consists in arranging the legs of the table in pairs and in pivotally connecting said pairs together, one of said pairs being hinged at one edge of the table and the other pair being detachably connected to the other edge of said table.

My invention further consists in adapting as a means of pivotally connecting said pairs, a binding rod one end of which is screw threaded to engage with a thumb nut and serves to look the said legs firmly in position when properly extended.

My invention further consists in other improvements, the details of which are fully illustrated in the drawing and more specifically hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawing in which similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views: Figure 1, is a View in perspective of my improved table looking from below, and showing the legs in position for use; Fig. 2, is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing however the legs folded together and secured under the table when it is desired to carry the same; Fig. 3, is a view in perspective showing the interior of the table compartment; Fig. 1, is a view of the cover for said compartment, showing, however, said cover turned upside down for the purpose of illustrating its use as a drawing board. Fig. 5, is a side elevation of two of the legs of the table and the binding bolt and nut for securing same; Fig. 6, is a cross section through the round of the table showing the leg members and binding bolt and nut for rigidly locking the same together; Fig. 7, is a cross section through the two members of one of the legs on line 77 of Fig. 5, illustrating the engagement of the stud in one member with the locking recess in the other; Fig. 8, is a view of the end of the lower member of one of the legs showing the attaching stud; Fig. 9, is a view of the end of the upper member of one of the legs showing the locking and holding recesses for engagement with said stud.

In the drawing, the table top 1.0 is constructed in the form of a shallow rectangular box, and is made of wood or other suitable material. One of the sides 11 of the box is not nailed to the base 17, but is permanently attached to the cover 13, thus leaving the box 10 when the cover is removed with only three sides thereto. (See Fig. Within the remaining sides 14: near the upper edges thereof is a horizontal groove shaped to engage with the edges of said cover 13, and provide a means of tightly closing the box and protecting the contents of the same from loss or external injury. The side 13 is provided with a lock 15 which engages with a tongue 16, and affords additional mechanism for securing the cover to said box and preventing the loss of its contents.

The base or bottom 17 of the box forming the table top, is preferably formed from a single wooden board, and has secured at one of the sides thereof the metallic brackets 18 which are preferably made from a single strip of metal, a portion of which is bent downwardly to engage with the upper ends of the legs 19 and 20 and to be pivotally secured thereto. Each of the legs 19 and 20 is composed of two members, 19*, 19 and 20 20", respectively. Since the construction of each of said legs 19 and 20 as wellas of the remainin legs 21 and 22, is preferably the same, 1t will be necessary to clescribe fully but one of said legs, for example, leg 19.

Referring to Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 9, the said leg 19 is shown composed of two members, the upper member 19 and the lower member 19 pivoted together by the binding rod 23 which passes through the holes 24 and 25 formed in said members. The adjacent ends of each of said members project beyond said pivotal connections and are held together in alinement by means of the stud 26 located upon the member 19", engaging with the recess 27 located within the member 19 By introducing at the end of the said recess metallic stud 28, I provide a means for engaging with the stud 26, and for wedging the two members together, the heads of said studs being tapered for this pur ose. (See Fig. 7 The said stud 28 is urther advantageous for the purpose of taking up the Wear which would otherwise take place in its absence upon the walls of the recess 27.

The above description applies to the leg in elongation as shown in Fig. 1; when the leg assumes the folded position shown in Fig. 2, the stud 26 is received in the recess 29. (See Fig. 9), the lower member 19 being turned about the pivot 23 until the foot of said member is in contact with the edge of the table to which the member 19 is pivotally secured and the two members are in contact throughout their entire length.

The legs 19 and 20 form a pair which are pivotally connected by the binding rod 23 to the pair of legs 21 and 22, the legs 21 and 22 being kept in fixed relation by the round 30, and lateral strip 31. The binding rod 23 thus forms a pivot for all the leg members, which are firmly secured or locked in the desired position by means of a washer and the thumb nut 32 threaded to engage with one end of said rod, the other end terminating in the head 33. (See Fig. 6.) At the mid dle of the strip 31, is the elongated opening 34 which is reinforced at the under portion of said strip by the plate 35, and which is arranged to engage with a catch 36 pivotally secured to a cleat 37 nailed or screwed 'to the under edge of the table opposite to the edge to which the brackets 18 are attached. Preferably the catch 36 is in the form of a button mounted on a rotating shank which is secured to said cleat 37 in any suitable manner. lVhen the leg members are folded in the position shown in Fig. 2, it will be observed that the cleat 37 is of such length and is so disposed that the members 21 and 22 will fold and come in close contact with and inclosd the ends of the same, to the end that when the thumb nut 32 is tightened, all of the members will be forced close together and will grip the ends of said cleat 37 and thus lock the. legs securely in position. In

order to prevent said members from becoming suddenly released when the said thumb nut 32 is untightened, I prefer to secure the same to the table by means of the spring attachment 38 which is attached to the under side of the table by a screw or the like and is bent downwardly to engage with the round 30 as shown.

All the various parts of the table may be constructed of any material suitable for the purpose, though I prefer to use wood for the legs and the box forming the top, and metal for the connections. By removing one side of the box, the writer is better able to rest his arms upon the surface of the table, and to accomplish such written Work as he may desire. I have shown the interior of the box 10 provided with a large pad 12, to which are secured a blotter 39, an ink well .40, a receptacle 41 for pens, sealing wax,

for drawing instruments, pen holders, pencils, and painting brushes, a pocket 43 for the reception of important documents, and a strap 44 within which maps or rolled papers may be carried; in a large pouch 45 extending beneath the entire width of the pad,

, the edges of said pouch being shown in the figure (Fig. 3), I carry drawing and writing paper, envelops and the like. By turning the cover 13 upside down, and returning the same While in such position to the horizontal grooves, I provide a surface that may be used as a drawing board to which may be secured drawing paper by means of thumb tacks as shown in Fig. 4. If desired the said drawing paper may be left secured as described until the drawing is completed, the reversal of the said cover and its replacement in proper position not necessitating the removal of the drawing paper for this purpose.

The operation of my table is as follows :The device being placed in a posi tion inverted to that shown in Fig. 2,"I loosen the thumb nut 32, and liftthe inner members of the legs 21 and 22 by means of the strip 31. I then seize the round 30 and swing upwardly all of the members to which the binding rod is connected until the said rod assumes the same relative position to the table top as is that shown in Fig. 1, and the members carrying the strip 31 are turned upon said rod until the said strip is secured to the cleat 37 at the edge of the table by means of the catch 36. The outer members are now extended until their respective studs engage with their corresponding recesses. The thumb nut is thereupon tightened and the legs of the table locked in position.

When my improved table is not in use, I prefer to fold and keep thesame Within a water-proof bag, which serves as a means of carrying the table from place to place and of protecting the same from the inclemencies of the seasons when being so transported.

My improved table is especially designed for the use of military oflicers and civil engineers,though it is also suitable for use out of doors by those whose professions are of a character requiring drafting, computations, note-taking and the like while in the field. It can consequently be employed for a great variety of purposes. In field surveys it is found of great utility, furnishing at the same time a convenient receptacle for the transportation of valuable notes and papers as well as a means for the drafting of plans and scale drawings and the making of extended Written reports and field notes. In the camp, sportsmen will find the table of use in compiling their diaries and in their personal or necessary business correspondence, or may use the same as a convenient means for partaking of food, the playing of cards, the serving of beverages and the like.

At sea shore cottages or at country residences, the table may when occasion demands, be readily moved and used upon the veranda, the lawn, or in open summer houses. By the traveler its use will at once be appreciated, since it can be availed of both as a traveling case and as a Writing desk.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

In a portable folding table, a table top, a plurality of legs supporting said top, each of said legs being composed of a pair of members pivoted together, the adjacent ends of said members projecting beyond their connect-ing pivot and having recesses containing fixed studs with tapered heads shaped to engage with similar fixed studs located upon the shanks of said members and thereby holding and securing the members of each of said pairs in alinement, combined with means for locking said members and legs in their relative positions assumed when in prolongation.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

BARONIN STEPHANIE CERRINI.

WVitnesses:

H. D. JAMEsoN, R. I. WILLIAMS. 

